Apparatus for disintegrating ores



(No Model.)

- H. B. M'EECH.

APPARATUS FOR DslNTEGRATING DRES.

No. 321,835, Patented July 7, 1885.

NITED ASTATES PATENT muon.

APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING ORES.

ySiPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,835, dated July7, 1885.

Application filed January 8, 1884. Renewed November Q5, 1884. (Nomodel.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HARRISON B. MEEcH, of Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Disintegrating Ores, and I do herebydeclare the following to he a full, clear, and eXact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for disintegratingores, and more especially to an apparatus or machine for disintegratingores in accordance to the process for which Letters Patent No. 250,37 7were granted me December 6, 1881, which consists, essentially, ingrinding or disintegrating the ore when subjected to high temperature.

rlhe object of this improvement is to provide an apparatus of suchconstruction that it shall be capable of withstanding a high degree ofpressure and have a capacity for operating upon a larger quantity of oreat once. A further object is to provide for a circulation of the ore,and thereby insure a constant feed of fresh material to thegrinding-surfaces.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of an apparatusembodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the grindingsurface and rotary mullers or grinding-plates.

A represents the receptacle in which the ore is ground. This receptacleis made of iron or steel of sufficient strength to withstand an internalsteam pressure of two hundred pounds (more or less) to the square inch,and is of a capacity to contain and have treated therein from ve to tentons (more or less) of ore at a time.

Receptacle A is constructed with a cylindrical central portion, A, andwith hemispherical ends Al A, firmly riveted to the central portion, A.

I do not limit myself to the exact form of receptacle shown, as the endsthereof can be conical, but prefer the form shown, as it insures greatstrength and capacity.

B is the operating-shaft, and is journaled at its upper end in abearing, c, secured to the receptacle, and provided with a stuffing-box,c', of any approved construction. The shaft B may be driven by thebevel-gearing c e.

'The lower end of the shaft is supported on a conical step, I, placed inbearing 2, the latter being provided with a stuffing-box, i', to preventthe escape of steam; or, instead of the above-described construction andarrangement of parts, the shaft may extend through the lower head orend, A3, and be provided with a stuffing-box on the outside thereof, asindi` cated in dotted lines. The lower head, A, has secured to its innercurved surfaces the grinding surface H, consisting of tapering platesradiating from the bearing c', and eX- tending to the upper edge of thelower head.

To the lower portion of the sh-aft B is secured a spiral elevator, E,which may be of any desired length and pitch. To the cuter edge ofspiral elevator E is secured a cylinder, D. Arms F are rigidly securedat their inner ends to the cylinder, while to their outer ends arehinged the mullers or grinding-plates G. The mullers and sectionalgrinding-surface secured to the lower head are preferably made ofcast-iron with chilled wearing-surfaces. Vhen unduly worn, the plates orsurfaces may be readily renewed. Receptacle A is provided with aman-hole, L, of sufficient size to admit a workman in the event it isdesired to repair or renew any portion of the apparatus within thereceptacle. Apipe, m, provided with a stop-cock, m', connects with theupper end 0f the receptacle for the admission of the partlycrushed oreand water thereto. Steam, which materially assists in disintegrating theore, is admitted to the interior of the apparatus through pipe n, whichis provided with a stop-cock, n. The ore, after having been sufficientlyground, is blown off through pipe O, which is provided with a stopcock,O.

The steam admitted into the apparatus assists in the disintegration bypenetrating the pores of the rock and expanding the same, and also byits tendency to decompose the hard rock or elements that make up thebulk of ore deposits.

Having described the relative arrangement and construction of parts ofmy improved apparatus, I will brieiiy describe its operation. The ore isfirst crushed and pulverized by any approved type of maehi ne, andreduced to the proper degree of lneness-say about forty mesh. \Vhenwater or any liquid chemical solution is mixed with the ore, and themixture is transferred to the interior of the rcceptaele A through thepipe m, steam, either live or superln-ated, is then admitted throughpipe n until an internal steam-pressure is obtained of one hundredpounds (more or less) to the square inch. Power is then applied, and theshaft B is rotated, which operates to subject the ore to a grinding`action between the grindingfsurfaee H andthe rotary mullers orgrinding-plates G. At the same time the spiral elevator serves to raisethe ore that has passed downwardly between the grindingsurfaces andallow fresh ore to be fed thereto, and thus insure a constantcirculation of the ore and a uniform grinding of the contents of thereceptacle. The grinding may be continued any desired length of ti mesayfive hours, (more or less)--although the time required for propergrinding is dependent on the character ofthe ore under treatment. Afterthe ore has been properly reduced it is blown off through pipe O intoany suitable receptacles Yfor its subsequent treatment by precipitationand amalgamation for extracting the precious metal therefrom.

It is evident that many changes in the form, construction, and relativearrangement ofthe parts might be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention,

and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myselfto theexact form and construction ot' apparatus shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Iatent, isv I. In an apparatus for disintegratingores, the combination, with a closed receptacle constructed with ahemispherieal end having a grinding-surface removably secured thereto,ofa rotary shaft provided with hinged mullers, substantially as setforth.

2. In an apparatus for disintegrating ores, the combination, with aclosed receptacle, of the rotary shaft, the grinding-smrces, and thespiral elevator and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for disintegrating ore, the con'ibination, with theclosed receptacle having semicireular lower end provided with adetachable grinding-surface, a revolving shaft, an elevator secured tothe shaft, and mullers or grinding-plates connected with said shaft,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l. have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

HARRISON B. MEECI'I.

\Vit nesses:

S. G. No'rrrNGiLmr, Griendt; F. DowNINe.

